Governor Hochul Announces Opening of State Facility to Store Sexual Offense Evidence Collection Kits that Have Not Been Released to Law Enforcement Custody

 

Secure Storage Gives Survivors of Sexual Assault Ability to Receive Medical Care, Consent to Evidence Collection and Time to Decide if They Want to File a Police Report

State Office of Victim Services Established the Facility to Comply with the State Law that Requires Unreported Kits to be Stored for 20 Years from the Date of Collection

Governor Hochul Directs State Landmarks to be Illuminated Blue, Green and Purple Tonight, April 24

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the opening of a State facility to store sexual offense evidence collection kits that have not been released to law enforcement custody. Secure storage gives individuals who have been sexually assaulted the ability to get medical care, consent to forensic evidence collection and time to decide if they want to file a police report. The State Office of Victim Services established the facility to comply with the state law that requires unreported kits to be stored for 20 years from the date of collection. Capital Region, Mohawk Valley and Western New York hospitals are the first to notify survivors that their kits will be transferred and how they can track them. Hospitals in the state’s remaining regions will follow that process in the coming months.

“New York State remains committed to supporting survivors of sexual assault in every way possible,” Governor Hochul said. “This new State facility will be a critical tool to help deliver support and justice, while providing a strong foundation for victims to heal and alleviate some of the pressure they may feel when it comes to legal timelines.”

New York State Office of Victim Services Director Elizabeth Cronin said, “Access to timely medical care following a sexual assault is critical. It allows an individual to seek treatment and medication, and other services and support that may help them decide whether to report the incident to police. If they are not ready to involve the criminal justice system, preserving forensic and other evidence also increases their options, and the secure storage of kits allows them the time and space to decide the next steps that are best for them.”

Office of Victim Services Director Elizabeth Cronin joined state agency colleagues, medical professionals, victim advocates, law enforcement and other professionals at Albany Medical Center this morning to discuss the facility’s operations and to educate survivors that hospitals must make a concerted effort to contact them before their kits are transferred. This notification allows individuals to decide whether to transfer their kit to the facility, notify law enforcement about the incident, or consent to having their kit disposed. Hospitals across the state have approximately 10,000 kits in storage.

Located in the Capital Region, the facility is secure, climate controlled and designed to ensure the integrity of potential evidence. It began accepting kits in mid-January 2023 and to date, Albany Medical Center and Glens Falls Hospital, both members of the Albany Med Health System, have transferred 525 items to the facility: 277 sexual offense evidence collection kits, 83 drug-facilitated sexual assault kits and 165 other items such as clothing and bedding. The facility’s current capacity is 17,400 items and will increase to 26,600 items once renovation of a second storage wing is complete.

Prior to sending kits to the facility, hospital staff must be trained on the electronic system for logging and tracking kits and other items, and the victim notification portion of the system. Office of Victim Services staff are currently onboarding hospital staff in the Capital Region, Mohawk Valley and Western New York so they can transfer kits and other items to the facility and notify survivors. Hospital staff in Central New York, Long Island and the North Country are scheduled to receive the training in May. Office of Victim Services will train hospital staff in New York City in August, and they will train hospital staff in the Finger Lakes, Mid-Hudson and Southern Tier in November.

Governor Hochul also directed the following state landmarks to be illuminated blue, green and purple tonight, April 24, in recognition of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and to honor victims and survivors and recognize the professionals who support them:

• One World Trade Center
• Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge
• Kosciuszko Bridge
• The H. Carl McCall SUNY Building
• State Education Building
• Alfred E. Smith State Office Building
• Empire State Plaza
• State Fairgrounds - Main Gate & Expo Center
• Niagara Falls
• Albany International Airport Gateway
• MTA LIRR - East End Gateway at Penn Station
• Fairport Lift Bridge over the Erie Canal
• Moynihan Train Hall

The state Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) provides Sexual Offense Evidence Collection Kits, and Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault Kits, at no cost to hospitals and medical facilities. DCJS, in partnership with a multidisciplinary team of professionals, recently updated the kits to streamline the evidence collection process, make it less invasive and extend the timeframe for obtaining forensic evidence from 96 hours to 120 hours. DCJS also must establish an electronic system that will allow survivors to track their kits from the point they are collected by law enforcement and subsequently sent to a crime lab for testing. That system is expected to be fully operational by 2025.

The Office of Victim Services directly reimburses medical providers for the cost of a forensic rape exam (FRE) if an individual does not have private health insurance or chooses not to use their private health care insurance for the examination. This measure is an exception to the agency’s payer of last resort rule and provides for the personal privacy of victims. The Office of Victim Services also accepts FRE claims in lieu of police reports, which enables individuals to seek financial assistance and reimbursement from OVS for other expenses related to the crime.

OVS funds and supports 239 victim assistance programs statewide that provide essential services, such as crisis counseling, support groups, case management, emergency shelter, civil legal help and relocation assistance, among other assistance, to victims and survivors of sexual assault and other crimes, and their families. Individuals may visit ovs.ny.gov/connect to find these programs, which provide services at no cost and regardless of whether an individual has reported the crime to police. New York State’s Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline also is available for confidential support and advocacy 24/7: 800-942-6906 (voice), 844-997-2121 (text) and opdv.ny.gov (chat).

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson - Join us for our Job Fair!

 

Dear Neighbor,

 

The Office of the Bronx Borough President, in collaboration with the New York State Department of Labor (DOL), invites you to attend an exciting job fair! Our goal is to connect Bronx Borough community members with exceptional job opportunities. This job fair is open to the public, and we encourage all job seekers to attend. You'll have the chance to meet with employers, learn about businesses and organizations, and showcase your skills and experience. We have 34 businesses partnering on this Job Fair and some of them are looking to hire onsite.

 

The job fair will take place on Thursday, April 27th, from 10 am-3 pm, at the Bronx Borough Hall (Rotunda), located at 851 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY, 10451. Don't forget to bring copies of your resume or business cards to share with businesses.

 

Register for this event by April 24th, by filling out the information this form: Join us for the Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson & NY Department of Labor Job Fair (office.com). We look forward to seeing you there!

In partnership,

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson

MAYOR ADAMS HAILS PBA’S RATIFICATION OF CONTRACT AGREEMENT, PROVIDING FAIR WAGE INCREASES AND EXTENDED TOUR PILOT

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today released the following statement after the Police Benevolent Association (PBA) voted to ratify the contract agreement by an overwhelming majority, with 97.69 percent voting in favor of the contract. The contract will provide wage increases, retroactive to 2017 and going through 2025, ranging from 2.25 percent to 4.00 percent over the contract period, and provides a new pilot program that will allow officers to test working extended tours of 10- and 12-hour shifts:

 

“The men and women of the NYPD put their lives on the line each and every day to keep our city safe — and we’re proud that the PBA contract ratified today recognizes the unique contributions and sacrifices that members of service make on behalf of all New Yorkers. This contract offers fair wage increases, provides for greater flexibility for our officers, and boosts the salary schedule for starting officers to ensure they are fairly compensated. We thank Office of Labor Relations Commissioner Renee Campion and PBA President Pat Lynch for their relentless efforts to reach this historic agreement.” 

THE NYS OFFICE OF ADDICTION SERVICES AND SUPPORTS AND THE NYS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH LAUNCH BUPRENORPHINE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (BUPE-AP)

 

Pilot Program Will Cover Cost of Buprenorphine to Treat Opioid Use Disorder for Uninsured and Under-insured New Yorkers

The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) and the New York State Department of Health (DOH) today announced the launch of the Buprenorphine Assistance Pilot Program to assist New Yorkers with the cost of buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD).

Bupe-AP will cover the cost of buprenorphine for eligible uninsured and under-insured individuals with no out of pocket costs for their medication. Buprenorphine is used to help manage OUD involving substances such as heroin, fentanyl, and prescription opioids, and decreases the risk for opioid-related mortality (overdose).

OASAS Commissioner Chinazo Cunningham said, “Cost should not be a barrier to accessing life-saving medications.  This benefit will help ensure equitable access to critical buprenorphine treatment, and will undoubtedly help to reduce overdose deaths.”

NYS DOH Acting State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “Ensuring fair access to this lifesaving medication is another step toward providing compassionate care for New Yorkers who are struggling with opioid use disorder. This partnership demonstrates the state’s dedication to addressing the harm caused by the opioid epidemic and prioritizes treatment and the use of safe, effective medication that will ultimately save lives.”

The Bupe-AP pilot program will be managed by the DOH AIDS Institute’s Office of Uninsured Care Programs (UCP) working in partnership with the NYSDOH Office of Drug User Health. The pilot program will utilize UCP’s existing pharmacy benefit management system, allowing access to over 4,300 pharmacies currently enrolled.

The Program will allow for select OASAS and DOH programs to roll-out the benefit, make modifications as necessary and expand to additional agencies in the future. Programs will be required to utilize guidelines to identify those patients who meet eligibility criteria. Opioid Stewardship funds will be utilized to cover the cost of medication as well as staff time to process the claims.

New York State has instituted an aggressive, multi-pronged approach to address the overdose epidemic, comprised of a nation-leading continuum of prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction services. This comprehensive system includes crisis services, inpatient, outpatient, and residential treatment programs, mobile treatment and transportation services, as well as medication for substance use disorder.

In addition, DOH recently launched a new harm reduction campaign that advises individuals to avoid using opioids and other drugs alone, and to know that, in case of an overdose, calling 911 will not result in a possession charge. Persons who use drugs are encouraged to carry naloxone and know how to administer this life-saving medication.  More information about the new harm reduction campaign can be found at https://www.health.ny.gov/saferchoices.

OASAS also continues to support expansions to harm reduction services across New York State, including expanding access to medication for addiction, naloxone, and other services to support overall health and well-being of people impacted by addiction. More information about the OASAS Bureau of Harm Reduction and available services and resources can be found at https://oasas.ny.gov/harm-reduction.

New Yorkers who want assistance for themselves or their loved ones with their substance use or gambling can find help and hope by calling the state’s toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369). 

Governor Hochul Announces Award of More Than $5.8 Million for New Addiction Treatment Programs in New York State

 

Funding will Enable Providers to Establish Comprehensive Integrated Outpatient Treatment Programs Designed to Increase Access to the Full Continuum of Services for Opioid Use Disorder

Grants Awarded through New York State's Opioid Settlement Fund

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the awarding of over $5.8 million to providers across New York State to establish comprehensive integrated outpatient treatment programs for addiction. This funding is being distributed through the State's Opioid Settlement Fund.

"Countless lives have been impacted by the opioid and overdose epidemic here in New York," Governor Hochul said. "As individuals, families, and communities across the state continue to feel the impact of this crisis, we are working to meet the ongoing need for treatment services, and will continue our comprehensive effforts to help ensure no more lives are lost to addiction."

Comprehensive integrated outpatient treatment programs provide more opportunities to access person-centered comprehensive services, including medication treatment for opioid use disorder. These programs are designed to address the ongoing need for integrated treatment by centralizing these services in one location. Programs receiving this funding will operate both an outpatient treatment program and an opioid treatment program (OTP) at the same site.

New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports Commissioner Chinazo Cunningham said, "These new programs will allow more people to receive important help and support for addiction, including medication treatment, all under one roof. Thanks to the funding provided through the Opioid Settlement Fund, we are continuing to expand and enhance our services to give more New Yorkers a chance to access these important services closer to home."

State Senator Nathalia Fernandez said, "I am happy that we are seeing the Opioid Settlement Fund be used in such precise and effective ways. Having integrated treatment in one location will not only help our patients to receive critical services but it will also help providers and medical staff with the resources they need to save lives and treat addiction more successfully."

The following 12 providers are receiving funding through this initiative to establish programs in the listed counties.

Central New York

• Crouse Health Hospital (Onondaga) - $239,097

Finger Lakes

• Huther Doyle Memorial Institute, Inc. (Monroe) $560,000

Long Island

• Federation of Organizations for the New York State Mentally Disabled, Inc (Suffolk) $660,000

Mid-Hudson

• Westchester County Health Care Corp & Health Alliance (Ulster) - $374,000
• Lexington Center for Recovery, Inc. (Dutchess) - $374,000

New York City

• Elmcor Youth & Adult Activities, Inc. (Queens) - $660,000
• NYC H+H Jacobi Medical Center (Bronx) - $660,000
• Samaritan Daytop Village (Richmond) - $660,000
• St. Joseph's Hospital (Queens) - $402,000

North Country

• Credo Community Center for Treatment of Addictions, Inc (Jefferson) - $240,106

Southern Tier

• CASA Trinity, Inc. (Steuben) - $615,224

Western NY

• Northpointe Council, Inc. (Niagara) - $374,000

 

New York State is receiving more than $2 billion through various settlement agreements with opioid manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies that were secured by Attorney General Letitia James. A portion of the funding from these settlements will go directly to municipalities, with the remainder deposited into a dedicated fund to support prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery efforts to address the ongoing opioid epidemic.

The same legislation that established the dedicated fund also created the Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board, which is tasked with making recommendations on how settlement dollars should be allocated to best serve those in need. Board members issued their first recommendations on November 1, identifying the expansion of harm reduction services and treatment as top priorities.

New York State has instituted an aggressive, multi-pronged approach to addressing the overdose epidemic, and created a nation-leading continuum of addiction care with full prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction services. The state has worked to expand access to traditional services, including crisis services, inpatient, outpatient, and residential treatment programs, as well as medication to treat addiction, and mobile treatment and transportation services.

Governor Hochul was a member of the NYS Heroin and Opioid Task Force, which in 2016, recommended new, non-traditional services, including recovery centers, youth clubhouses, expanded peer services, and open access centers, which provide immediate assessments and referrals to care. These services have since been established in numerous communities around the state and have helped people in need access care closer to where they live.

The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports oversees one of the nation's largest substance use disorder systems of care with approximately 1,700 prevention, treatment and recovery programs serving over 731,000 individuals per year. This includes the direct operation of 12 Addiction Treatment Centers where our doctors, nurses, and clinical staff provide inpatient and residential services to approximately 8,000 individuals per year.

New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state's toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369). 

Available addiction treatment including crisis/detox, inpatient, residential, or outpatient care can be found using the NYS OASAS Treatment Availability Dashboard at FindAddictionTreatment.ny.gov or through the NYS OASAS website. 

If you, or a loved one, have experienced insurance obstacles related to treatment or need help filing an appeal for a denied claim, contact the CHAMP helpline by phone at 888-614-5400 or email at ombuds@oasas.ny.gov.

MAYOR ADAMS, CITY PLANNING DIRECTOR GARODNICK CELEBRATE MAJOR STEP FOR PROPOSAL TO GREEN NYC, SUPPORT CITY’S CLIMATE GOALS

 

“City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality” Will Remove Zoning Barriers to Greener Energy, Buildings, Transportation, and Water and Waste Systems

 

Proposal Would More Than Double City’s Solar Energy Capacity, Help Reach Goal of Powering 250,000 Homes With Solar

“City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality” Will Remove Zoning Barriers to Greener Energy, Buildings, Transportation, and Water and Waste Systems

 

Proposal Would More Than Double City’s Solar Energy Capacity, Help Reach Goal of Powering 250,000 Homes With Solar 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of City Planning (DCP) Director and City Planning Commission (CPC) Chair Dan Garodnick today celebrated a major milestone for “City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality,” the first of Mayor Adams’ “City of Yes” proposals. City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality is a citywide zoning amendment that, with 17 policy proposals, will modernize the city’s Zoning Resolution to facilitate climate action, clean energy, and resiliency by removing barriers to greener energy, buildings, transportation, and water and waste systems.

 

DCP today officially referred the City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality text amendment, kicking off a public review process in which the text amendment will go before all 59 community boards, all five borough presidents and borough boards, the City Planning Commission, and the City Council. Community engagement materials and high-resolution images are available online.

 

“Today, New York City is saying ‘yes’ to a cleaner, greener, more prosperous future for generations to come,” said Mayor Adams. “This proposal will make it easier to tackle climate change in the places we go, how we get there, and what we do. The climate crisis is urgent, and I look forward to talking to New Yorkers about how we can remove barriers, take action, and ensure a healthy future for our neighborhoods, our city, and our planet.”

 

“Meeting our ambitious climate goals requires a whole-of-government approach, including updating our own regulations,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development Maria Torres-Springer. “I am excited to take this important step forward and encourage New Yorkers to say ‘yes’ to changes that will enable us to be a greener and healthier city.”

 

“New Yorkers want to do the right thing for our city and planet, and City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality will make it easier than ever to take climate action,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “Removing outdated zoning barriers will give New York City the tools to create a robust electric vehicle charging network, expand the installation of rain gardens and permeable pavement to prevent neighborhood flooding, and support New Yorkers who install solar panels on their homes.”

 

“This is a critical initiative to meet our climate goals,” said DCP Director and CPC Chair Garodnick. “By modernizing our zoning code for climate action, we can reduce our carbon emissions, support our resiliency efforts, and set New York City up for success in the clean-energy revolution. By updating our 20^th-century zoning code to address the 21^st-century climate crisis, we can cut through the red tape that prevents New Yorkers from cutting emissions and electrifying our buildings and transportation. We look forward to a robust public review process as we move toward a cleaner, greener city for all.”

 

 

An illustration of the ways City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality will remove zoning barriers to greener energy, buildings, transportation, and waste streams. Credit: New York City Department of City Planning

 

City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality is one of three citywide zoning text amendments that Mayor Adams outlined last year as part of his vision for a City of Yes. The other two text amendments will support small businesses and entrepreneurs (“City of Yes for Economic Opportunity”) and facilitate the creation of more, and different types of, housing (“City of Yes for Housing Opportunity”). Today’s referral follows the completion of another major component of the mayor’s City of Yes vision: the “Get Stuff Built” report put together by the Building and Land Use Approval Streamlining Task Force.

 

The initiative comes as New Yorkers can take advantage of the federal government’s historic investments in clean energy through the Inflation Reduction Act and as the city works to meet ambitious environmental goals such as those in Local Law 97. These opportunities build upon existing programs to assist New Yorkers, including from NYC Accelerator — which has already provided one-on-one building-specific guidance on Local Law 97 obligations to nearly 10,000 buildings — as well as Con Edison, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, and state tax credits.

 

City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality will update outdated regulations that currently make it harder for New Yorkers to retrofit their homes for energy efficiency or resiliency, install heat pumps or solar panels, switch to electric vehicles, or compost and recycle — all critical steps for New York City to reach its ambitious environmental goals.

 

The zoning text amendment consists of 17 policy proposals, including:

 

Plan for a Renewable Energy Grid: This initiative would remove existing zoning obstacles that severely limit how much space on a rooftop can be covered by solar panels, unnecessarily slowing the city’s shift towards renewable energy sources. It would also make it easier to install energy storage infrastructure needed for solar energy and facilitate standalone, grid-supporting solar and community microgrids — particularly in low-income communities — that are currently banned in residential areas.

 

These changes would open up over 8,500 acres of parking lots across the city for potential use of solar panels. If fully built out, these solar panels could power more than 130,000 homes.

 

Create Cleaner Buildings: The text amendment would alleviate onerous restrictions such as the height and thickness of walls that restrict building electrification and retrofits. This proposal would add flexibility making these modifications possible while maintaining the look and feel of the city’s neighborhoods.

 

These changes would facilitate environmentally friendly retrofits for over 50,000 buildings, including more than 1 million homes, where retrofits are currently infeasible and would violate city zoning.

 

Support Electric Vehicles and Micromobility: This proposal would more than double the commercially zoned land where electric vehicle charging facilities can be located. It would also clarify regulations and facilitate safe bicycle and e-mobility parking.

 

These changes would make electric vehicle charging possible in more than 400 million additional square feet.

 

Modernize Water, Compost, and Recycling Regulations: This initiative would expand the use of permeable paving and rain gardens, cut red tape and eliminate uncertainty for recycling and composting, and encourage rooftop food production.

 

These changes would contribute to the city’s efforts to divert the 34 percent of New York City’s residential waste — and as much as 45 percent of all solid waste — that is organic material from landfills to beneficial use.

 

The text amendment will now be referred to all 59 community boards, all five borough presidents, and all five borough boards for review and recommendation within 60 days. After those 60 days, the City Planning Commission will hold a public hearing and vote. If the commission approves the amendment, it will go to the City Council for a hearing and vote.

 

“New Yorkers have been witnesses to the rising sea levels and more intense storms that climate change is bringing to the five boroughs, and the City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality will help them do their part to slow this trend,” said Chief Climate Officer and New York City Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala. “By removing outdated regulations, we will help to expand the use of solar energy, electric vehicles, building electrification, and a circular economy for organic waste, all of which will help to slow climate change.”

 

“This zoning amendment will make New York a ‘City of Yes’ for climate adaptation and decarbonization,” said Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice Executive Director Kizzy Charles-Guzman. “Solar and energy storage will become more economical, and there will be easier pathways for green and grey infrastructure — all of which will reduce emissions and improve air quality and health.”

 

“The electric needs of our city are changing every day, and we know green energy and renewable energy are not just the future, they are initiatives that are here right now,” said Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) Commissioner Laura Kavanagh. “The FDNY is committed to finding safe ways to use these changing technologies, and we are happy to partner with the Mayor’s Office on a plan that will make our city cleaner, greener, and more energy efficient.”

 

“New York City continues to be national leader in sustainable, resilient, and forward-thinking urban planning,” said New York City Department of Buildings Acting Commissioner Kazimir Vilenchik, P.E. “With the proposed zoning changes from the City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality, the Adams administration will remove outdated building regulations, so owners can more easily retrofit their buildings. These energy-efficiency retrofits will be critical as we work towards our ambitious goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.”

 

“It’s time to rethink old rules and develop new solutions to confront the reality of climate change today,” said New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr. “City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality will supercharge our work to decarbonize existing buildings and create more sustainable housing for New Yorkers. Let’s say ‘yes’ to a greener, cleaner future for New York City.”

 

“City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality will make it easier for all New Yorkers, including those in landmark properties, to retrofit their buildings for energy efficiency and resiliency,” said Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) Chair Sarah Carroll. “LPC supports efforts to improve the energy efficiency and sustainability of New York City’s historic buildings and commends the Adams administration and the Department of City Planning for proposing important zoning changes that will help New York City achieve its ambitious carbon neutrality goals.”

 

“Convenient access to electric vehicle charging is crucial to encourage broader adoption in New York City,” said New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “These proposals would not only help expand charging infrastructure but also improve access to bicycle and e-micromobility parking by better clarifying related zoning regulations. We thank Mayor Adams and DCP Director Garodnick for their support in using zoning regulations to reduce emissions in the transportation sector and support more sustainable transportation options for New Yorkers.”

“For too long, the city’s zoning regulations prohibited buildings from making necessary green investments to fight climate change and cut down on toxic air pollution. That’s why the New York League of Conservation Voters supports New York City’s proposed City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality zoning text amendment,” said Julie Tighe, president, New York League of Conservation Voters. “This measure is a critical opportunity for New York City to modernize its zoning resolution to support the city and state’s climate goals and improve air quality and public health by reducing the use of fossil fuels in our building and transportation sectors.”

 

“This needed initiative will modernize New York City’s zoning rules to accelerate building decarbonization,” said John Mandyck, CEO, Urban Green Council. “The proposals are informed by industry experts with practical solutions to achieve greener, safer, and more resilient solutions to climate change. We applaud Director Garodnick and the dedicated team at City Planning for moving this crucial effort forward.”

 

“Given the threat that climate change poses to our city, there is no time to wait,” said Rob Freudenberg, vice president for energy and environment, Regional Plan Association (RPA). “Whether installing more solar panels or electric vehicle charging stations or retrofitting buildings to better comply with Local Law 97, zoning should not be an obstacle to taking actions that reduce our city’s greenhouse gas emissions and help us meet our climate goals. RPA strongly supports the launch of the City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality by Mayor Adams, Chair Dan Garodnick, and the Department of City Planning and City Planning Commission, and we look forward to working with them in their crucial effort to right-fit our zoning to the climate realities we face today.”

Speaker Adrienne Adams, Mental Health Committee Chair Linda Lee and Majority Leader Keith Powers Outline Council’s Mental Health Roadmap, Initiating Continuous Legislative and Budgetary Efforts to Solve Crisis

 

Roadmap focuses on expanding community-based preventive care, strengthening mental health workforce, confronting intersections with justice system, and improving public awareness and interagency coordination

Today, Speaker Adrienne Adams, Mental Health, Disabilities, and Addiction Committee Chair Linda Lee and Majority Leader Keith Powers unveiled the Council’s Mental Health Roadmap, a plan focused on addressing existing challenges in the City’s mental healthcare landscape and strengthening the infrastructure and investments in evidence-based solutions to improve mental health outcomes for New Yorkers. The Council’s roadmap is an ongoing effort of legislative and budgetary actions at the city, state and federal levels to help address New York City’s decades-in-the-making mental health crisis. It recognizes that meeting people’s individual needs earlier and more consistently can prevent them from entering the harmful cycles that exacerbate mental health conditions.

The Council’s Mental Health Roadmap outlines effective community-based models and addresses barriers to improved mental health in New York City, focusing on four key areas:

•   Expanding prevention and supportive services in communities;
•   Investing in the mental health workforce that has diminished because of inadequate support;
•   Confronting the harmful intersections between mental health and the criminal justice system to connect New Yorkers with appropriate care;
•   Bolstering public awareness of care resources and improved interagency coordination.

The complete Mental Health Roadmap is available here. The Council’s proposed legislation is available here and will be the subject of a May 4 hearing by the Committee on Mental Health, Disabilities, and Addiction.

“The Council’s Mental Health Roadmap is a community-oriented approach to address the city’s ongoing mental health crisis, and it’s what New Yorkers deserve,” said Speaker Adrienne Adams. “For too long, the city has underinvested in our community-based mental health prevention and treatment infrastructure, over-relying on emergency responses once an individual has reached emotional crisis. The roadmap is an initial series of steps towards shifting the city to focus more on evidence-based solutions at the community level to improve outcomes and support for our critical mental health workforce. I thank Council Member Linda Lee for her leadership in producing the vision for the Mental Health Roadmap and bringing it to life. We look forward to continuing our work with service providers, advocates, and community and government stakeholders in pursuit of effective solutions that help more New Yorkers access the care they need for well-being.”

“New York has been amid a mental health crisis which was evident even before the pandemic, that greatly exacerbated the hardships experienced by residents all over the city. Today, the City Council is outlining its plan to address years of inequities across our mental health infrastructure to improve the quality of care and create better mental health outcomes for New Yorkers,” said Council Member Linda Lee, Chair of the Committee on Mental Health Disabilities and Addictions. “This roadmap will be a continuous effort to provide evidenced-based solutions that expand preventative and supportive care, invest in our mental health workforce which includes a wide network of New York City nonprofit and community-based organizations, and reduce the interactions between individuals experiencing mental health-related illness and the criminal justice system. New Yorkers must be aware of the resources our city has to offer in times of crisis, and I am confident that these legislative and budgetary efforts outlined in the Mental Health Roadmap will enhance the delivery of services and improve the various insufficiencies we have observed for years throughout our healthcare system. Thank you to Speaker Adrienne Adams, Majority Leader Keith Powers, and the entire Committee on Mental Health, Disabilities, and Addictions for working to lay the foundation to lift our City out of this crisis.”

“The City Council’s Mental Health Roadmap is a focused response to our mental health crisis,” said Majority Leader Keith Powers. “The Roadmap will provide critical preventive and support services to some of our most vulnerable New Yorkers and make a real difference in people’s lives.”

Highlights of legislative and budget actions at the city level from the Council’s Mental Health Roadmap include:

Expansion of Prevention and Supportive Services

•   Legislation, sponsored by Majority Leader Powers, that expands the number of Crisis Respite Centers throughout the five boroughs by at least two per borough, prioritizing areas with high need and open by appointment, walk-in, or referral.
•   Legislation, sponsored by Council Member Kevin Riley, that establishes the City’s commitment to expand “clubhouse”-style community centers for individuals with serious mental illness (SMI), like those already successfully operating.
•   Ensure that Local Law 35/2023, sponsored by Council Member Erik Bottcher – which requires mental health professionals to be available in the 30 largest families with children shelters to provide on-site or telehealth mental health service – is fully funded and implemented.
•   Advocating to include adequate funding in the city’s Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) budget for expanding school-based mental health services, including the additional investment of $28 million to strengthen existing school-based mental health clinics and establish additional sites across all five boroughs.
•   Advocating for the Administration to reevaluate its production goals in the NYC 15/15 supportive housing plan, towards building two-thirds as congregate units and only one-third as scatter-site units, while continuing to advocate for an additional $45 million to meet the funding need for the remaining supportive housing units.
•   Urge the Administration to baseline $5 million in funding for the Mental Health Continuum, a cross-agency partnership between the Department of Education (DOE), NYC Health + Hospitals (H+H), and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) to provide mental health support to all students, as outlined in its FY24 Preliminary Budget Response.
•   Advocating to include adequate funding in the city’s FY24 budget through its $1.7 million Children Under Five Initiative that provides mental health services for children five years old and younger.
•   Advocating to include adequate funding in the city’s FY24 budget for the Mental Health Youth Council Initiative to provide flexible mental health services for youth programs run by community-based organizations.
•   Advocating to include adequate funding in the city’s FY24 budget for family support and educational programs that help families learn to navigate relationships with loved ones experiencing a mental health disorder, which would include funding peer-led and family support groups, as well as family therapy and counseling programs.
•   Develop a plan to provide Mental Health First Aid training for Council staff that teaches the skills to provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health problem or experiencing a crisis.

Investment in Mental Health Workforce

•   Advocating that the City’s FY24 budget includes adequate funding allocations to nonprofit and community-based organizations, with a focus on organizations that provide culturally competent and linguistically diverse mental health supports and services.
•   Funding and helping establish a Social Work Fellows Program at one or more City University of New York (CUNY) schools, which would subsidize the cost of mental health education, degrees, and licensing, particularly for students who commit to working in public interest mental health professions, which historically experience high turnover rates and staffing shortages.
•   Advocate for adequate funding and in contracts to achieve pay parity for workers across the mental health workforce within city government and the non-profit sector providing similar services.

Reduction of Criminal Justice System Interactions

•   Legislation, sponsored by Council Member Lee, to require the Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health (OCMH) to report on implementation of the Mayor’s Involuntary Transport directive, released on November 29, 2022.
•   Advocating for the City’s FY24 budget to include adequate funding for street outreach teams that utilize the Center for the Justice Innovation’s “Community First” model currently operating in Times Square.
•   Advocating for the City’s FY24 budget to include adequate funding for the expansion of Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s (DOHMH) Intensive Mobile Treatment teams, which provide intensive and continuous support and treatment to individuals within their communities where and when they need it.
•   Advocating for the City’s FY24 budget to include $12.8 million more to meet the funding need for 380 units of Justice Involved Supportive Housing targeted at the small group of people with the highest level of need, who cycle between jail, prison, hospitalization and shelter the most.
•   Advocating for the City to create educational and training support programs to increase attorneys and judges’ awareness about available mental health diversion options, facilitating their connections to the City’s mental health providers in support of coordinated care and responses for clients who may end up in the courts and justice system
•   Supporting the expansion of Support and Connection Centers, which offer short-term clinical and non-clinical services to people with mental health and substance use needs, and promotes community-based and person-centered engagement, stabilization and connection to services.
•   Holding an oversight hearing on the B-Heard program to address the significant challenges and concerns with the ways the program is currently being implemented.

Increase Public Awareness & Interagency Communication/Coordination

•   Consider legislation, sponsored by Council Member Bottcher, that requires the Administration to conduct public outreach, as well as educational and enrollment campaigns, on mental health services available through NYC Care.
•   Consider legislation, sponsored by Council Member Lee, that requires the creation of a user-friendly comprehensive data set of the locations of all outpatient mental health services in the city.

Each section of the Roadmap also includes budget investments and policy changes needed at the federal and state levels.

Former Public Official and California Contractor Sentenced for Bid Rigging and Bribery

 

 A former Caltrans contract manager and a former contractor were sentenced today in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California in Sacramento for their roles in a bid-rigging and bribery scheme involving Caltrans improvement and repair contracts.

Choon Foo “Keith” Yong, the former Caltrans contract manager, was sentenced to 49 months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay $984,699.53 in restitution. According to a plea agreement filed on April 11, 2022, Yong and his co-conspirators engaged in a conspiracy, from early 2015 through late 2019, to thwart the competitive bidding process for Caltrans contracts to ensure that companies controlled by Yong’s co-conspirators submitted the winning bid and would be awarded the contract. Yong also pleaded guilty for accepting bribes while working for Caltrans, a California state agency that receives significant federal funding. Yong received the bribes in the form of cash payments, wine, furniture and remodeling services on his home. The total value of the payments and benefits that Yong received neared $1 million.  

William D. Opp, the former contractor, was sentenced to 45 months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay $797,940.23 in restitution. According to a plea agreement filed on Oct. 3, 2022, Opp engaged in the same conspiracy, from early 2015 through at least as late as August 2018. As part of the conspiracy, Opp formed a separate construction company, with his wife as the nominal president, to submit sham bids on Caltrans contracts. During his participation in the conspiracy, Opp and co-conspirators provided nearly $800,000 in cash bribes and other benefits to Yong.

Yong and Opp are the second and third co-conspirators to be sentenced in the case. On April 17, 2023, former construction company owner Bill R. Miller was sentenced to 78 months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay nearly $1 million in restitution.

“These criminals – including a state employee who sought sales commissions for his role in the bid-rigging scheme – put greed and personal gain ahead of the public trust and are being punished accordingly,” said Director Daniel Glad of the Justice Department’s Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF). “The Antitrust Division and our PCSF partners are on the lookout for those that try to cheat on government contracts.”

“A former Caltrans employee and a contractor have been sentenced today for a conspiracy that cheated a state agency out of taxpayer funds and that, if left unchecked, could threaten to undermine public confidence in the proper functioning of government institutions,” said U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert for the Eastern District of California. “The defendants’ abuse of public trust and the length and breadth of the criminal conduct fully warrant today’s sentences. Bribes have no place in government contracting.”

“All government employees are expected to conduct businesses in accordance with both law and policy to ensure the integrity of those transactions and maintain public trust in the agencies they represent,” said Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan of the FBI Sacramento Field Office. “No government official should put personal gain ahead of the needs of the communities they represent. The FBI stands ever ready to identify, investigate, and disrupt public corruption to ensure the American public’s trust in the institutions designed to serve and protect them is maintained.”

Today’s sentencing is the result of a joint investigation that was conducted by the Antitrust Division’s San Francisco office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California, and the FBI’s Sacramento Field Office as part of the Justice Department’s Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF).

In November 2019, the Department of Justice created the Procurement Collusion Strike Force, a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant, and program funding at all levels of government — federal, state and local. To contact the Procurement Collusion Strike Force, or to report information on market allocation, price fixing, bid rigging and other anticompetitive conduct related to construction or infrastructure, go to www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force.